The Newark Black Film Festival, the longest-running Black film festival in the United States, has been a pivotal platform for Black filmmakers, actors, and storytellers since 1974. It showcases films that explore the intricacies of the Black experience, reflecting diverse narratives and fostering cultural enrichment.
The longest-running Black film festival in the US returns
Schedule of Events:
5:30 - 7:15pm - Dahomey
Dahomey (1h 8 min) Not rated
Directed by Mati Diop
Dahomey traces the historic repatriation of 26 royal treasures from France to Benin, simultaneously forging a speculative and political reflection on cultural heritage, collective memory, and the implications of restitution.
Ancestral Call (Screens prior to Dahomey) (16 min) Not rated
Directed by Sonia Kennebeck and Tetiana Anderson
Danielle Scott, a Black, Polish-Jewish, and Asian mixed-media artist at the cusp of international fame, risks her own wellbeing by exposing herself to the intergenerational trauma of the Atlantic Slave Trade.
The screenings will be followed by a panel discussion.
7:30pm - 10pm - Cooley High with Michael Schultz in-person
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of this classic film with director, Michael Schultz.
Cooley High (1h 47 min) Not rated
A presentation honoring the film’s director Michael Schultz will take place before the film begins.
Set in 1964 Chicago, Cooley High is a slice-of-life tale of two high school students coping with the challenges of everyday life.
Closed Captioning will be provided.